Trump to meet Putin soon, venue still under wraps

A high-level meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump has been tentatively agreed upon, according to the Kremlin. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov said that preparations for a bilateral summit are underway and could materialize as early as next week—though final details such as the date and location have yet to be confirmed.

Planning a New Chapter in U.S.-Russia Diplomacy

Ushakov noted that the idea for the summit came from the American side and that the meeting is “agreed in principle.” While organizers aim for next week, Ushakov emphasized that these types of summits require intricate planning. He added that an official announcement about the venue will follow shortly.

He also downplayed the likelihood that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be included in this round of talks. The White House had floated the possibility of trilateral discussions involving Ukraine, but Russia appears focused on a direct bilateral exchange.

“Our priority is to make the meeting with President Trump productive and successful,” Ushakov stated, signaling that Moscow is not ready to broaden the summit’s scope just yet.

Should it proceed, this will be the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump resumed the presidency earlier this year. While the encounter could mark a diplomatic milestone in the ongoing war in Ukraine, expectations remain low that it will deliver a resolution.

Russia’s Stance Remains Firm

Despite public interest in diplomacy, little has changed in the positions of the warring sides. Russian forces continue to press forward on multiple fronts in Ukraine, and President Putin has not signaled any willingness to compromise. Western officials, meanwhile, have accused Moscow of using peace overtures to buy time and capture more territory.

There’s also ambiguity around whether Trump’s previous ultimatum—reportedly giving Moscow until Friday to halt its offensive or face increased economic sanctions—is still in effect.

Ukrainian Appetite for Negotiation Grows

New polling data suggests a shift in public sentiment within Ukraine. A Gallup survey released Thursday reveals that a growing number of Ukrainians support a diplomatic resolution to the war, now in its third year.

Back in 2022, when the full-scale invasion began, nearly 75% of respondents supported continuing the fight until victory. Now, only about 25% maintain that stance. Instead, around 70% of Ukrainians believe their country should seek a negotiated settlement as soon as possible.

The poll surveyed residents aged 15 and older across Ukraine. However, it did not include areas currently under prolonged Russian control, which account for roughly 10% of the population, due to accessibility limitations since 2022.

Despite the evolving sentiment, most Ukrainians remain skeptical that peace is near. Just one in four respondents believes that fighting will stop within the next year. A majority—about 70%—see an end to active conflict in the next 12 months as unlikely.

The Human Cost and Military Stalemate

Since Russia’s invasion escalated in 2022, over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in bombardments of cities and towns far from the front lines, according to United Nations figures. On the battlefield, a 1,000-kilometer stretch from the northeast to southeast continues to witness high casualties. Russia’s numerically superior forces have gradually seized more land, contributing to Ukraine’s strategic difficulties.

Although President Zelensky has repeatedly expressed a willingness to meet with Putin to negotiate peace, his proposals have consistently been dismissed by Moscow. Russia insists on conditions that Kyiv has long refused, including territorial concessions and changes to its foreign alliances.